Healthcare and cosmetic packaging must not only show great shelf appeal but, just as important, it needs to keep its contents in perfect condition, possibly for a long time. The key is packaging that can reduce oxygen and fragrance loss at the same time as increasing shelf life. All of these separate factors are controlled by one thing - the vapour permeability of the packaging.

Versaperm's permeability measurement equipment allows you to test and develop a container's design and determine the effect of both the manufacturing techniques and the materials used. Blow moulding, for example, can decrease packaging's effectiveness by a factor of four. This makes a dramatic difference and governs whether aromatic volatiles and moisturisers are retained and also how moisture and oxygen are barred to preserve the cosmetic's critically delicate and important unsaturated lipid bonds, which can turn rancid and produce unpleasant odours.

Testing and optimising can make a real difference to a product's quality, fragrance and shelf life.

Versaperm's system can measure the vapour permeability of materials, samples, tubes, vials, thermoformed pots, bottles, sachets, foils, laminates, films and other barriers to a typical accuracy in the PPM (Parts Per Million) range - with Parts Per Billion for some gasses and materials.

Vapour permeability helps to prevent product quality problems, loss of fragrance and even the growth of off-odours. With Versaperm's equipment you can measure the permeability of both the material the packaging is made from and the product-filled container itself.

It is ideal for use in both product development and quality control environments. Versaperm also offers a consultancy service and a permeability laboratory service for companies that only need to test samples on an irregular basis.